From the Editor:

    Across the US many of us are feeling the economic pinch from rising fuel and shipping costs, food and consumer items, and other expenses incurred from everyday life. Many feel that this economic downturn is currently reflected in the trials and tribulations faced in non-profit fundraising. You might be seeing fewer donations from past donors or a slump in your ability to find new donors. You might even be encountering rising costs in running your program.

    But do not despair! These challenges are all part of the ever changing landscape of operating a non-profit both in the US and worldwide. Without your program, many communities across the US would be feeling the loss. So many of our programs provide a necessary and essential need in communities which would otherwise not be met if they were to cease to operate. After-school programs would lose mentors, senior citizens would not get the nourishing meals they need, children in the US and across the world would not get the education and food required to live...there is SO much that you do!

    CDP is here to help you accomplish these and many other charitable purposes. You are not alone in your quest to make your community a better place. We can help you through the changes, by setting up a website and donation link to bring in online donors, advising you on applying for grants, helping you cultivate those past donors and find new ones, and finding new and innovative ways to help your program thrive.

    Shoot us an email or give us a call! Helping our programs achieve their charitable purpose is why we exist!

In this Issue:

• Online Account Access
  
  
• Processing and New Fees
  
  
• Updates to CDP Program Rent Policy
  
  
• Advisory Committees
  
  
• Program Websites
  
  
• Helpful Tips
  
  
• Program Spotlight: "The Brain Candy Project"

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Stay up to date with Online Account Access:

    Have you taken a closer look at the Online Account Access? It’s available to all CDP Program Managers. It's where you can find your program account balance, recent donations, disbursements, and monthly statements. Update your personal information when you change addresses or telephone numbers, see all account activity since your programs inception, and donate online to another charity. There is so much you can do, just log on!
    To start, you’ll need your User ID and password. Don’t have it? Contact Joseph Beltran at joseph@nhf.org and he will set you up. Enter the login information into the ‘Login’ area of www.cdprograms.org, and you’re off! There are five different areas to explore: My Funds, My Grants, My Contributions, My Profile, and My Forms.
In the My Funds area, you are able to view detailed information about account balances and both recent and past disbursement activity. In My Grants you can request and track grant recommendations to other approved 501(c)(3) non-profits in the US and worldwide.  My Contributions will enable you to view all recent contributions to your program. To keep your personal information up to date, visit the My Profile area of the Online Account Access. And lastly, My Forms allows you to access important forms and documents for your program’s operations.
    The Online Account Access login service provides Program Managers with a comprehensive tool to keep track of all program activity. So log on to stay organized and up to date!

CDP Fee Schedule
See What Services We Offer!

    CDP has updated a comprehensive list of both the fixed operating fees and the varying special processing fees for your disbursement requests. The fee schedule is posted on our site, www.cdprograms.org, in three places: 1.) under Operational Policies 2.) Getting Started , and 3.) within Applications and Forms . This list contains the set operational fees as well as fees for special shipping, processing, and banking. Please take a look at our Fee Schedule to keep informed and current on any fees your program could incur as well as see what services we offer to our valued programs.

Updates to CDP Program Rent Policy
Reflects Changing IRS Rules

    CDP constantly monitors IRS Rules and Regulations concerning the operations of our charitable programs. Our policies reflect the most current information available and are updated as necessary. As you may know, there are two ways a program can rent space, 1.) by either renting an office or 2.) by having a dedicated space within their home. Both these options require a signed Office Reimbursement Policy as well as other necessary forms.
    For renting an office space outside of the home, CDP needs to have on file a copy of the signed lease and a signed W-9 from the company or individual renting the space to the program. You cannot name CDP as a lessee. Since rent payments are considered taxable income to the landlord, CDP must report this income to the IRS and send a 1099 to the landlord. Utilities separate from the rent payment may also be paid 100% to the company or as a reimbursement to you with payment verification.
    Having a dedicated space within your home is an easy and cost-effective way to run your charitable program. With our new understanding of the IRS rules, there are some changes as to how CDP can reimburse for utilities and pay rent from a home office. To qualify, your home office must be used 100% for the program. Whether you own your home or rent from a landlord, the IRS recognizes this situation as a sublease and the payment is considered taxable income. We will need to have a W-9 on file for you. Reimbursement for a percentage of utilities such as gas, electric, or internet will be incorporated into the sublease. You will receive a form misc-1099 at the end of the year for tax purposes.

The Benefits of an Advisory Committee

     Advisory Committees are a helpful tool in operating a non-profit. They play a critical role in oversight, development, and the general direction a program can take. Your advisors can support and fundraise for your program; however they do not have any legal authority over your program or CDP. Only CDP’s Board of Advisors is legally binding and a list of the board members can be found here.
    Your Advisory Committee may be compiled from known associates, community leaders, experts in your program’s purpose area, and others that have an interest in your program. These individuals should understand your program and your relationship with CDP.
    Advisory Committees are essential to most grassroots non-profit programs. They are able to provide a donor base of friends and colleagues. Additionally they are able to offer expertise in their chosen field. Your committee members can help you find donors, speak out and engage the community, and provide you with the support needed to run your program.
    Most Advisory Committees are small in size, around 3-5 people. Your committee should understand that while the help they provide to the program is immensely beneficial, you, as the program manager, are responsible for the program. An Advisory Committee is there to lend their personal and professional experience and contacts to enhance your program and its stature in the community.
    So go out in your community and search for those you think would help your program. Being a part of your program is a privilege that most community members would love. Your program deserves to have an Advisory Committee that can help you change your community!

Website and Publications Review – A Must For All CDP Programs

Once approved, you will display our Website Approval Seal
which will add value and credibility to your program.

Helpful Tips:

• Need State Sales Tax Exemption for a large purchase? CDP is currently working on registering in as many states as possible to enable the purchase of items sales tax free. Check with us to see if your state has given CDP an exemption and to approve the purchase.
  
  
• Want more non-profit education? The Foundation Center has centralized locations across the US that offers seminars and workshops. They even offer free online seminars, covering a variety of issues.

CDP Spotlight on Programs:

CDP wants to encourage communication among our Program Managers. Knowledge about programs with similar purposes and operating scopes can create relationships that benefit both the public and all CDP Programs. If you would like to submit your program for “CDP Spotlight on Programs” send a statement of purpose, website address, and completed article to Katie@nhf.org.
Submissions may be edited for content.

This Issue's Spotlight:

Helping Parents Care for Sick Children

    The Brain Candy Project was conceived on December 12th, 2006, when Cameron Allen, then just 11 years old, was officially diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma, grade 3.

    Just days before, he had had a 12 hour tumor resection surgery. Three skilled neurosurgeons and their team at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN, removed about 90% of a peach-sized tumor. Brain cancer is rare in children (only about 2,000 new diagnoses per year in North America), but AA3 is even rarer, typically occurring in Caucasian men over the age of 45.

    The oncologist imparted the horrible news to Cameron's parents, and in the same breath, he informed them that there were no brain tumor support groups in the state. General cancer support groups, yes, but not exclusively pediatric or brain tumor centered. He said, "You're on your own."  Henry Allen, Cameron's father, replied "No. No one is alone. There will be a support system for parents living in the hospital with their children as they recover from brain cancer, or any other brain trauma." The vision came in that moment, full-force and complete.

     For the next two months, Henry slept on the floor of Cameron's hospital room. It was that or the uncomfortable chair that was provided. He learned first-hand that most hospitals are severely limited in support services for parents living in hospitals with their children. While some hospitals certainly do better than others, the consensus is that it is never enough. The Brain Candy Project picks up where hospitals must leave off, in terms of in-house parent care. Parent care is patient care, when it comes to kids who are critically ill. They look to their parents for how to react, how to heal, and how to cope.

    By August, 2007, The Brain Candy Project was approved as project under the umbrella of The Congressional District Programs. The services to parents that The Brain Candy Project strives to offer through this program are vital, such as The Candy Box (our comfort kit), or paid parking during their time in the hospital, nutritious meals, an air mattress so they don't have to sleep in a chair or on the floor like Henry did for two months...the need is real.

    No one is alone. The Brain Candy Project is making a difference in Minnesota, yet there are parents sleeping on floors of hospitals everywhere in the world. We are developing a template that can be easily replicated in any hospital, in any community, anywhere in the world.

Henry Allen
Founder, Executive Director
The Brain Candy Project
Holding parents so parents can hold their children.
www.braincandyproject.org

Click here to see The Brain Candy's Facebook Causes Page!